KLAC vs SNPS: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: KLAC, with $12.2B of yearly revenue, about 1.7× SNPS's $7.1B.
  • More profitable: KLAC keeps 33 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 19 cents at SNPS.
  • More cash from each sale: KLAC turns 34 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 22 cents at SNPS.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

KLA (KLAC) is the larger business by reported revenue: $12.2B in its fiscal year ended Jun 2025, about 1.7× SNPS's $7.1B (fiscal year ended Oct 2025). KLAC's net margin was 33.4% and SNPS's 18.9%. The SEC classifies them differently (Optical Instruments & Lenses; Services-Prepackaged Software); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Information Technology
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
KLAC June 30 · SNPS October 31
Reviewed
Aug 6, 2026

KLAC vs SNPS: quick comparison

Company factKLACSNPS
CompanyKLA CorporationSynopsys, Inc.
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
SEC industryOptical Instruments & LensesServices-Prepackaged Software
Fiscal year-endJune 30October 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-08-0610-K · 2025-12-22

KLAC vs SNPS: audited financials

  • Scale: KLAC's $12.2B of revenue is about 1.7× SNPS's $7.1B.
  • Net margin: KLAC kept 33.4% of revenue as net income versus 18.9% at SNPS.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled KLAC 33.6% of revenue, or 1.00× net income; SNPS 21.5% of revenue, or 1.14× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 4 months apart (2025-06-30 for KLAC, 2025-10-31 for SNPS), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

KLAC: FY ending 2025-06-30 · SNPS: FY ending 2025-10-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where KLAC and SNPS overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Artificial intelligence.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: KLAC files as Optical Instruments & Lenses; SNPS as Services-Prepackaged Software.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: KLAC's year ends June 30 and SNPS's October 31, about 4 months apart.
  • Only KLAC maps to Tariffs & trade.
  • Scale: KLAC reported about 1.7× the annual revenue of SNPS.
  • Profitability: net margin of 33.4% for KLAC versus 18.9% for SNPS.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

KLA Corporation (KLAC)

KLA makes the process-control and inspection systems chipmakers rely on to detect defects during semiconductor manufacturing.

Synopsys, Inc. (SNPS)

Synopsys develops electronic design automation software and semiconductor IP used to design and verify complex chips.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves KLAC

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for KLAC. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-08-06.

What moves SNPS

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for SNPS. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2025-12-22.

The investment question

You now know KLAC reports about 1.7× SNPS's revenue, and KLAC keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to artificial intelligence, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. KLAC's fiscal year ends June 30, while SNPS's ends October 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 10 matched transaction rows for KLAC and 17 matched transaction rows for SNPS. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

KLAC vs SNPS FAQs

Are KLAC and SNPS direct competitors?

Not necessarily. KLA files as Optical Instruments & Lenses and Synopsys as Services-Prepackaged Software. The pair is compared because both map to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is KLAC or SNPS the bigger company by revenue?

KLA (KLAC) is the larger business by reported revenue: $12.2B in its fiscal year ended Jun 2025, about 1.7× SNPS's $7.1B (fiscal year ended Oct 2025). KLAC's net margin was 33.4% and SNPS's 18.9%. The SEC classifies them differently (Optical Instruments & Lenses; Services-Prepackaged Software); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, KLAC or SNPS?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this KLAC vs SNPS comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers KLA Corporation and Synopsys, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

KLAC vs SNPS compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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